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10 Popular Houseplants (And How to Pick The Best Ones For Your Home)

6 min read

House plants have exploded in popularity over the past few years. With their beauty and health benefits, they can make any room instantly feel more homey. If plants aren’t already part of your decor, now is the perfect time to add them! As long as your home has plenty of natural light and you have a little time to dedicate to caring for them each week, you’re in good shape to bring some house plants to your living space.

You can place houseplants nearly anywhere in your home, but for plants that need extra sunlight to flourish, we recommend utilizing the space in your garden window, the ledge of your bay or bow window, and the space around your double hung windows.

But how do you know which plants are best for your home? We’ll discuss that but before we get into it, let’s talk about some of the benefits of indoor plants.

Benefits of Houseplants

Believe it or not, bringing a little greenery into your home can have quite a few advantages! In addition to brightening up your space, here are a few reasons to bring the outside in:

  • Many houseplants help purify the air in your home. (We’ve noted which plants are best for this below!)
  • Plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen, further increase the air quality in your home.
  • Studies have shown that being around plants can actually reduce stress and help us relax.
  • Indoor plants can help reduce background noise.
  • Several houseplants in one room can increase the humidity in that room, helping to keep sore throats, coughs, and dry skin at bay.

Ready to exercise your green thumb? Here are our houseplant recommendations!

The 10 Best Indoor House Plants

Whether you’re new to indoor plants or you have a bit of experience with gardening, there’s a plant here for you! These are some of the most popular house plants, sure to brighten up your home and bring the great outdoors inside.

1. Aloe Vera

Aloe is a great option for anyone who wants a houseplant, but doesn’t exactly have a green thumb. Aloe plants are very easy to care for: just put them in a sunny spot and water them every few weeks (yep, weeks!) Due to their love of sun and small size, aloe plants flourish in garden windows. They are known to help remove formaldehyde, a colorless gas common in new construction products, from the air. You can even use the juice in the plant to help heal small cuts and sunburns. Just break a piece off, cut it open, and apply the inside to the affected area.

Best for: Busy people that want a low-maintenance house plant with serious benefits.
Pet friendly?: Yes, although it can be mildly toxic to cats and dogs if ingested. You can still enjoy an aloe plant by placing it in a hanger or on a high shelf out of reach of pets.

aloe plant

2. Peace Lily

Peace lilies are a popular flowering house plant. They do require a bit more care than other indoor plants, but their beautiful blooms make it worth it. To care for a peace lily, place it in a bright spot out of direct sunlight and water it when the soil is slightly damp to keep it moist.

Peace lilies produce oxygen at night and have air-purifying properties. They remove ammonia, benzene, and formaldehyde, potentially harmful colorless gasses that are present in some cleaning and construction product, from the air. It’s important to note that peace lilies also produce pollen, so if you suffer from allergies, you’ll probably want to pass on this plant.

Best for: People who are ready to flex their green thumb with a flowering plant.
Pet friendly?: No, it is highly toxic to both cats and dogs.

peace lily

3. Snake Plant

A lot of plants have air-purifying capabilities but the snake plant has actually been studied by NASA. The study, an attempt to find plants that could purify the air on space stations, put the snake plant near the top of the list of plants that can clean the air. It also produces oxygen, helping you breathe easier. What makes this plant even more impressive is that it’s extremely hardy and low-maintenance! While it prefers bright light, it can also survive in low light for long periods of time. Just water it regularly, being sure not to get the soil too wet, and your snake plant will thrive.

Best for: People that want a beautiful, low-maintenance, air-purifying plant.
Pet friendly?: Yes, although it is mildly toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.

snake plant

4. Spider Plant

If you’re looking for an easy-care plant that is 100% pet-safe, look no further! Just put it in a bright spot, out of direct sunlight, and water occasionally. In addition to being low-maintenance, they help remove carbon monoxide and xylene, which can irritate your eyes, nose, and throat, from the air.

Best for: Busy people that still want the benefits of an air-purifying plant.
Pet friendly?: Yes! Spider plants are safe for cats and dogs.

spider plant

5. Rubber Plant

If you’re looking for a house plant that is a little bigger, the rubber plant is a great choice. With large, dark green leaves, it’s a striking addition to any home. They’re relatively easy to care for, just put it in a bright spot and water it regularly. Forget to water it for a while? No problem! Rubber trees can handle a little neglect.

Best for: People that want a striking house plant without too much work.
Pet friendly?: No, the rubber tree is toxic to both cats and dogs if ingested.

rubber plant

6. Ferns

There are dozens of species of ferns that do well indoors. Ferns are a classic house plant for good reason: they look great with any style of decor and they simply require consistent temperatures to thrive. Ferns are also great at filtering the air, allowing you to breathe easier.

Best for: People looking for a classic houseplant that elevates any room to the next level.
Pet friendly?: Yes! Ferns are non-toxic to both cats and dogs.

indoor fern

7. Bird of Paradise

If you want to add a touch of the tropics to your home and have some extra space, a bird of paradise is just the ticket! These beautiful tropical house plants can get pretty large, up to 5’ tall and 2-3’ in diameter. Despite their size, they’re relatively low-maintenance. They require water only when the soil is dry, which means you’ll probably only need to water it once a week or so. The bird of paradise will flourish in humid conditions, so we don’t recommend them for cold or dry climates.

Best for: People with ample space who want a tropical house plant.
Pet friendly?: No. All varieties are toxic to cats and dogs, and some are even fatal to cats. It’s safest not to have this plant if you have indoor pets.

bird of paradise plant

8. Philodendron

Philodendrons are another great option if you’re looking for a tropical house plant! Their glossy leaves are gorgeous and look great in a pot on a table, in a hanging planter, or even along a trellis (the climbing variety grows into beautiful vines). Large-leaf philodendrons are also among the best at purifying the air in your home.

Philodendrons love humid climates with moderate sunlight/light shade. You’ll want to keep the soil moist, but avoid overwatering. They grow quickly so you’ll want to trim it back when it gets too big. You can even propagate the cuttings by putting them in water until roots form, then planting in soil.

Best for: People who want a versatile tropical plant.
Pet friendly?: No. Philodendrons are toxic to cats and dogs, although if they are grown in a hanging planter, well away from the reach of pets, you can still enjoy them worry-free.

philodendron

9. Dracaena

Dracaena is a popular house plant, and for good reason. All dracaena varieties feature beautiful leaves in shades of green and yellow, with some having striking red edges. They are among the larger varieties of house plants, and some types can grow over 8 feet tall. No matter which variety you choose, you’ll love this low-maintenance, air-purifying plant!

Best for: People who want a large house plant without a lot of work.
Pet friendly?: No, dracaena is toxic to both cats and dogs if ingested.

dracaena

10. Herbs

Herbs do triple duty: they’re charming indoor plants, provide air purification, and you’ll always have fresh herbs to use in your favorite dishes! Most herbs thrive in pots indoors, especially basil, mint, rosemary, and lavender. Other options that aren’t known for their air purification but are still great options are oregano, thyme, parsley, and sage. For more information about growing your own herbs, check out our post about herbs to grow in your window box or garden window!

Best for: People that want their indoor plants to do more than look good.
Pet friendly?: It depends on the herbs that you choose. While most herbs are safe, it’s best to check the safety of the specific herbs you want to grow.

growing herbs indoors

Make Your Home Brighter With Window World

With a variety of energy-efficient, low-maintenance vinyl replacement windows, Window World can help you brighten up your home so your indoor plants can thrive. Explore our wide variety of window styles and schedule your free estimate to get started!

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